But Adams would not be scoffed aside so easily.

"You're off in your estimate of Mr. Darrah, Jack, 'way off. I know the
tradition: that a Southern gentleman is all chivalry when it comes to
a matter touching his womankind, and I don't controvert it as a
general proposition. But the Rajah has been a fighting Western
railroad magnate so long that his accent is about the only Southern
asset he has retained. If I'm any good at guessing, he will stick at
nothing to gain his end."

Winton admitted the impeachment without prejudice to his own point of
view.

"Perhaps you are right. But forewarned is forearmed. And Miss Virginia
is not going to lend herself to any such nefarious scheme."

"Not consciously, perhaps; but you don't know her yet. If she saw a
good chance to take the conceit out of you, she'd improve it--without
thinking overmuch of the possible consequences to the Utah company."

"Pshaw!" said Winton. "That is another of your literary inferences.
I've met her only twice, yet I venture to say I know her better than
you do. If she cared anything for me--which she doesn't--"

"Oh, go to sleep!" said Adams, who was not minded to argue further
with a man besotted; and so the matter went by default for the time.

But in the days that followed, days in which the sun rose and set in
cloudless winter splendor and the heavy snows still held aloof, Adams'